Rugby union?

[Unseul]

Soooooo, rugby is finally coming back into the horizon for the UK.

Grueling end of season, then start of a new one shortly after.

Some clubs with lots of movement, some with little.

To my great surprise, Wasps are thankfully one of those with very little movement, and have just announced long term extensions for 15 players, lots of them are key names too.

 

[Unseul]

It's going to be interesting to see what the teams look like after so many player transfers. Saracens vs Bristol is going to be a tasty match on the opening weekend. Sarries focused on winning in Europe at this point, but wonder if they will suffer from losing several players? Have French teams also had extensive player transfers?

Would imagine that Sarries will play a lot of youngsters, they're not playing for anything in the prem right now.

The tight schedule could see some of those with smaller squads struggle by the end.

 

[Unseul]

I know it's a double post, but it's been a while.

Grass roots strong rumours that we're going back with no contact. 10 aside max. So basically touch/tag. Not too much of an issue for my minis, who were going to start tackling this season, but a delay isn't the end of the world. However for seniors, I think the focus is going to have to be a big social enjoyment side, like the summer touch I did last year, otherwise front row aren't going to be having much fun.

 

[Unseul]

I'm also hearing talk of 10 man rugby for seniors, but not heard anything about juniors yet.

Non-contact rugby... I might consider coming out of retirement!

If you have an opportunity in the future to go to the Summer touch that get's run at some clubs, I'd highly recommend it. There was a huge mix of ability at ours, people who'd never played rugby before etc. Brilliant fun, good workout etc.

 

[Unseul]

Lots of rust out there. Hope the breakdown laws hold. And here's hoping wasps go well tomorrow.

 

[Unseul]

How many forwards appeared shocked that they can't enter rucks from the side last weekend!!!

It was nice to see. Especially nice as Willis had a good day . Unfortunately I'm out for this evenings games, might be able to catch some on my phone depending on reception.

 

[Unseul]

New interpretations is how I've mostly seen it referred to. I do agree that it's good that they're enforcing it more now though, hopefully it will continue and not drop off.

 

[Unseul]

First training session with my u9s today. Bit different, needed more organisation, but overall, pretty smooth. Just starting to introduce tackling, fun and games .

 

[Unseul]

It is not a "foul" because no one is offside (so a penalty would not be awared), however, you would lose possession because it is a knock-on or forward pass (play advantage to other side, or stop play for a scrum).

If you've deliberately thrown it forwards, that's a penalty I believe. You can accidentally pass forwards, or knock on, but I suspect throwing it forwards on purpose is a penalty.

If it's not a penalty, then at the very least, as above, it's a knockon/forwards pass, and therefore a scrum from where you were when you threw the ball.

 

[Unseul]

Yeah, deliberately ramming the ball onto your head, heading the ball to me would normally be called as losing control forwards I reckon. Could be a loophole if you head it and catch it. Heading a kick is acceptable though, not sure I'd want to try it though.

 

[Unseul]

The ruck can be complicated.

Once tackled (carriers knee hits the ground, and is held), the ball carrier can make 1 movement to place the ball, he should then release (refs don't mind if you keep it in place if there's no competition for it). The tackler has to clear himself from preventing the ball from being placed. He must be back on his feet and enter through the gate of the ruck if he wants to take further part.

The first man to the tackled player forms the offside line. He can use his hands, as there is technically no ruck. If he is a defending player, then the tackled player should in theory let go of the ball and let him pick it up. This is where a lot of penalties come from, not releasing the ball on the ground. If there was already an attacking player on his feet over the ball, then the moment a defending player is pushing against him, a ruck is formed, and no more hands allowed inside the ruck by players involved in the ruck.

Another option for a turnover here, and the one that you may be referring to, is when defending players drive over the ball, pushing all the attacking players off of it, leading to the ball now being available for the previous defending team. If everyone falls over at this point, and the ball is stuck, this can often be where the ref will reward the team who were going forwards and turnover the ball to the previously defending side, awarding them the scrum.

There's more to the ruck, but that's a large portion of it.

 

[Unseul]

Good post - it's all getting clearer now, thanks

No worries. The ruck is a big old mess in general, with a ton going on. It's very hard for ref's to get it all right, but for the most part I think they do quite well, especially when you consider there's normally 100-200 rucks a game.

It's one of the reasons why I love the ruck. It's almost another set piece, yet it's one that plays out 10-50 times more than any other set piece. A team that works the ruck well is extremely powerful. Key points are less winning turnovers, and more clearing it and using it quickly. The All Blacks are always praised for their high skill levels, but it's their physicality that's actually out of this world, they absolutely blast the ruck. When you see a team actually match that, suddenly the ABs look a lot more human and the games often run a lot closer.

 

[Unseul]

Anyone else already bored of all the talking about the Lions.

Lions, Legends, Heroes, Legends, Lions - ad infinitum. I am genuinely close to breaking a major personal taboo and supporting South Africa.

I support the Lions, but I don't get involved in the drama, don't see it as a positive thing for England or England players. It's a cash cow for our strongest opposition, whilst simultaneously draining our players.

 

[Unseul]

Saracens won the opening match against Bears with 26-9. Really looking forward to this season

Turns out Bristol just aren't very good .

 

[Unseul]

Nah, we'll come good. Were worse today than last week though. Need to make some changes for Bath next week.

Just watched bath Newcastle. Bath were absolutely awful!

 

[Unseul]

Wasps come up with the win, bit of a relief at the end, fun game to watch where defences were just about able to contain attacks for the most part. Few silly pens from Wasps that would have been nice to avoid.

 

[Unseul]

Why are you kicking the ball away with 1 min 30 left? I don’t watch enough rugby but seems embarrassingly bad you don’t have confidence in not committing a penalty in possession for 1min 30

Going 90 seconds against a fired up defence, in a dangerous position on the pitch and likely only getting pushed further backwards, is a dangerous proposition. Safer to welly it, and trust your defence to hold them far enough away to run the clock out.